It is not necessary, neither would it be profitable, to give in full detail what Ujarak said to the gaping¹ crowd. Enough to know that, like other statesmen, he made the most of his subject, and fully² impressed his audience with the belief that this first of Kablunets who had ever visited these ice-bound regions had been mysteriously, yet irresistibly³, drawn⁴ there through his, Ujarak’s, influence, with the assistance of his torngak or familiar spirit.

 

One man there was in that assembly, however, who seemed to be not very deeply touched by the wizard’s eloquence⁵. Yet he did not express unbelief by his looks, but received all that was said with profound gravity. This was Angut, the reputed angekok, to whom reference has been made in a previous chapter.

 

Although a thorough Eskimo in dress and in cast of feature, there was a refinement⁶, a gravity, a kindliness⁷, and a something quite indescribable about this man, which marked him out as an exceptional character among his fellows. As we have said elsewhere, he was not unusually large, though he was unusually strong, for his power lay rather in a well-knit and splendidly proportioned than a bulky frame. Ujarak was taller and broader, yet did not possess half his muscular strength. Ujarak knew this, and had hitherto avoided coming into collision with him. But there was also a moral strength and enthusiasm in Angut, which placed him on a platform high above not only Ujarak, but all the other men of his time and country. In short, he was one of those far-seeing and thoughtful characters, who exist in all countries, in all ranks and conditions of life, civilised and savage⁸, and who are sometimes styled “Nature’s gentlemen.”

 

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